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"Fruit Basket Upset"

Galatians 5:16-25 Contrary to what you may have believed, coming to Christ does not do away with the sinful nature. But does that mean we keep on sinning?  According to Romans 6, "absolutely not!"  So many, especially with addictions, struggle trying to get victory over their sin, but too often, our focus is on the sin, and not on the fruit that needs to be developing in our lives.  Take a look at this fruit, and see if ALL of it is developing properly:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Now that we've identified the fruit that needs to be growing, let's talk about how to get it growing!  First, you need to kill what will destroy your fruit, according to verse 24, and Colossians 3:3-9.  Coming to Christ is only the first step.  Just as in a garden you must constantly pull the weeds that would choke out the fruit, you must constantly crucify the sinful nature.  This is a battle that is fought in your mind (Romans 6 says, "Count yourselves dead to sin".)  Instead of confessing that you have an addiction, for example, start claiming the victory over it, in Jesus' name! Second, you need to cultivate your fruit, according to verse 25a, as well as Colossians 3:1,2,10,12. You are a new creation inside, but you need to feed the "new creation", and stop feeding the sinful nature.  The reason why we lose our struggle with temptation is often because we have fed the sinful nature so much, that it's bigger than our higher nature!  The best way to kill the sinful nature is to starve it.  Also, when two people get married, it's time to break off old ties, or there will be problems in the marriage. Now that we are "married" to Christ, it's time to sever our ties with the old way of thinking and living, and start living in allegiance to Christ. Third, verse 25b tells us to keep in step.  This is a marching term; think of the military or a marching band -- if you get off step, the whole thing gets messed up.  When we walk out of step with the Spirit, our lives get messed up.  This is the practical living aspect of this message.  How does it play out in everyday living?  Colossians 3:13-17 shows us how. The key word in all of this is "Spirit".  We don't fight our battles alone, but the Spirit of God is ready, willing and able to help us.